September 5, 2014 9:17 am
Published by Mark Scheets
To some homeowners, the idea of refinancing their mortgage seems a little daunting. The process is akin to buying your house all over again. Paperwork, credit checks, an appraisal, and closing costs are all aspects of the loan origination process that can complicate the answer to whether refinancing makes sense. For those unfamiliar with the term, refinancing simply... View Article
September 4, 2014 11:13 am
Published by Mark Scheets
One of the meanings of Escondido, California is “hidden treasure”, and this city located thirty miles north of San Diego might live up to its namesake. As a suburb of San Diego, Escondido acts as a bedroom community that provides enough on its own to attract buyers looking for a quiet taste of Southern California life with great... View Article
September 3, 2014 2:04 pm
Published by Mark Scheets
There’s a big difference between your gross income and your net income. Your gross income is the money you earn each month before taxes are removed. Your net income is that same income after taxes are removed. No surprise, your net monthly income is usually much lower than your gross monthly income. When it’s time to buy... View Article
September 3, 2014 12:01 pm
Published by Mark Scheets
Refinancing may sound like a good idea when mortgage rates decrease. It’s a chance to get a better loan and a cheaper rate. Many banks encourage refinancing, but getting a new mortgage doesn’t make sense financially for everyone. So, before you jump on the bandwagon and apply for a new mortgage to replace your existing one, here are... View Article
September 1, 2014 9:30 am
Published by Mark Scheets
With interest rates still low, many people remain interested in purchasing a home whether it’s their first one or second. The cost of doing so can be affordable and in a recent North Shore Bank/GMAR Home Affordability Report, shoppers in the second quarter could still buy a home with a small monthly payment as compared to late in... View Article
August 29, 2014 11:30 am
Published by Mark Scheets
Bridgeport, Connecticut has long been associated with manufacturing and its proximity to the New York City area. Bridgeport enjoyed early success driven by the shipbuilding and whaling industries due to its centralized location on the Long Island Sound. Bridgeport became a significant manufacturing center on the East Coast. De-industrialization occurred in the 1970’s and 1980’s and the result... View Article
August 28, 2014 2:06 pm
Published by Mark Scheets
Freddie Mac released their weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) today indicating that fixed rates are unchanged compared to rates last week. For the week ending August 28, 2014, 30 year fixed-rates remained at 4.10%. Interest rates for 15 year fixed mortgages closed the week at 3.25%. At this point last year, interest rates for... View Article
August 28, 2014 9:40 am
Published by Mark Scheets
If you want to make some headway with your personal finances, you may want to make plans to repay your debts. When we talk about debt, most of the time we’re referring to the “bad” kind: student loans with balances greater than your annual salary, or consumer credit card debt. But there’s “good” debt, too. That’s what your... View Article